george trotter Posted June 27, 2013 Report Posted June 27, 2013 I hope Barry Hennick sama doesn't mind me copying a pic from his "For Sale" list, but I thought I'd share my folk story about the crabs with human faces....as on his menuki. It is said that after the battle of Dan no Ura 1185 where thousands of Taira warriors were killed in a naval battle against the Minamoto their bodies, still in armour, floated down into the bay. From that time onwards the fishermen found that the back shell of the crabs of Dan no Ura developed the fierce faces of the dead Taira samurai...I think it is a great story. It is true too, the crabs there really do have these faces on their backs...scary! (It is 40 years since I was told this story...pretty sure I am remembering correctly. great menuki. regards, Quote
k morita Posted June 27, 2013 Report Posted June 27, 2013 George san, :D Your the description is completely right. The Taira families is called "Heike"平家 or "Heishi"平氏. So, The scientific name of this crab is Heikegani (Heike crab) (Heikeopsis japonica). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heikegani Quote
Dr Fox Posted June 27, 2013 Report Posted June 27, 2013 Further to what George says, is some more meat on this story. The Taira had with them at sea, the sacred person of the Emperor Antoku now 8 years old. To prove he was genuine he had with him, the three items of the imperial regalia. A mirror, sword and a jewel. When the battle was lost, Antoku’s grandmother Nii Dono, put the jewel under her arm, the sacred sword into her girdle, she then with the child emperor in her arms, said “In the depths of the ocean, we have a capitol”, and sank with him beneath the waves. The mirror apparently was saved. There is a waxwork of Antoku and his grandmother at the battle of Dan no Ura, in the Heike Monogatari Museum in Takamatsu. Denis. Quote
Viper6924 Posted June 28, 2013 Report Posted June 28, 2013 I love this story. The reason for the strange looking population of Heike-crabs in this area, is that the fishers thinks it means bad luck if they catch the crabs which have these face like shells. They throw them back and keep the ones without the "faces". Over the years the population with Heike-crabs with faces has grown strong. Bio-selection of a kind... Here´s a picture of a Heike-crab maedate that I use on a zunari kabuto. Jan Quote
Dr Fox Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 Having this item in hand and remembering the thread on Heike crabs. Thought a look-see might be a bit of fun. Cheers. Quote
george trotter Posted January 10, 2014 Author Report Posted January 10, 2014 Hi Denis, I see this is thread still going...love the Heike crabs. just to bore you further with the story of the Gempei War, I seem to remember that that was where one Minamoto clan leader (name?) shot his arrow from the shore to hit the hi no maru at the centre of the fan that the Taira had fixed to the ship's mast as a taunt to him. While I forget the names now I remember that the ancient song about this remarkable shot was called "Ogi no Mata" and it is the song that the Japanese girl on the floating billboard sings in "Blade Runner"...in case you ever wondered! Regards, Quote
Baka Gaijin Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 Good evening George, The archer would be Nasu no Yoichi. Here's a soulful rendition of Ogi no Mato http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7aO1Q0UIMs and also Nasu No Yoichi: I note you're Blade Runner fan. So here's a tricky question: Is Deckard a Replicant? Cheers Quote
Dr Fox Posted January 10, 2014 Report Posted January 10, 2014 Nice one Malcolm, beat me to it. George I revived this post due to the menuki I showed. It is said that the very fact that this arrow, hit its target, it was considered the battle was already lost. Another fascinating tale, one amongst many to be found in Japanese folklore. The whole clan conflicts from this time is great reading. Quote
george trotter Posted January 11, 2014 Author Report Posted January 11, 2014 Yes I enjoyed your post Denis...nice to see the crabs in mounts...and Yes I agree, very interesting folklore. And also thanks for the links to youtube...love the way the shamisen sounds like arrows fying through the air...great. Again, yes, most certainly, I am a Blade Runner fan, one of the best movies made IMHO. About Deckard, I think he is a Replicant and my feeling is that Deckard suspects/realises it himself. I must watch it again. regards, Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 11, 2014 Report Posted January 11, 2014 He is not. Look at how he fared in the climactic finish against Roy, totally mismatched and toyed with. Roy, and here is the whole point, who is soulless, an artifact, shows compassion for a man who had killed his friends and love, Pris, but, forgives him as a final act of compassion. Is compassion proof of a soul? This is the analogy of, do androids dream of electric sheep? What determines our humanity? Is it our dreams and hope for a better future or any future? Gaff is the human counterpart to Roy, in that he is aware that Rachael is a replicant, but, thinking she has the death gene, ignores the rules and has the compassion to allow Deckard and Rachael their time. Dick was a fantastic writer and the movie (long version) is a must see. John Quote
cabowen Posted January 11, 2014 Report Posted January 11, 2014 Not just the compassion, but his love of life, the sense of loss he feels as he sees it slipping away, his sadness that all of his experiences will disappear, "like tears in the rain"...What could be more human? I agree, great movie... Quote
Lance Posted January 11, 2014 Report Posted January 11, 2014 According to Ridley Scott; Deckard was a Replicant http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/825641.stm Great movie, one of my favorites. My impression was that the implanted memories were based on Edward James Almos's character Gaff: he was the the original "bladerunner", but wasn't physically able to hunt them anymore personally due to past injuries. Always seen using a cane, and the discussion about bringing the old bladerunner out of retirement. Whenever I see that scene it looks like Gaff and the supervisor are ""in on the joke" Plus he did always seem to pop up as if he was keeping tabs on Deckard, leaving the unicorn origami, and the speech at the end about no one knows how much time they really have. To keep on topic, an interesting woodblock print of Yoshitsune encountering Heike, depicting the crabs and angry Taira spirits: http://honolulumuseum.org/art/10245 Regards, Lance Quote
george trotter Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Posted January 12, 2014 Thanks for that info from Scott himself Lance...I always linked the origami unicorn left by Gaff with the hidden message that Deckard was (unknowingly) a replicant himself, but was beginning to realise it. The scene in the rain is very moving...a great movie. I must watch it again. (not sure this is on topic though...oh yes...Genpei crabs and the song)...and just to clarify, I am not a "Big Bang" kind if trivia encyclopaedia guy...I just like some movies a lot. Regards, Quote
Dr Fox Posted January 12, 2014 Report Posted January 12, 2014 Lance Thats a great share, oh I do have room for that on my wall. George This to tie in with your first post, you like? Quote
george trotter Posted January 14, 2014 Author Report Posted January 14, 2014 Nice Denis...you do find the little treasures don't you. Regards, Quote
Dr Fox Posted January 14, 2014 Report Posted January 14, 2014 George Treasures yes! What a nice start theme on a tsuka, I can see these peeping out from under a properly laid ito. For me on a sword not in a box, sigh Quote
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